US10591933B1 - Composable PFET fluidic device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. The fluidic device may be combined with other fluidic devices to form different types of logic devices g an inverter, OR gate, etc.). And the logic devices may be incorporated into an artificial reality system (e.g., as part of a haptic assembly). In some embodiments, a fluidic device includes a gate, a channel, and a wedge. The wedge controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on a fluid pressure in the gate. The wedge induces a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with a low pressure state of the gate, and a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a high pressure state of the gate, the second flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to fluidic devices for head-mounted displays (HMD) and more specifically to fluidic switching devices for use in virtual reality, augmented reality, and/or mixed reality systems.

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated environment created by computer technology and presented to a user, such as through a VR system. In some VR systems wearable devices (e.g., glove) allow a user to interact with virtual objects. Circuitry on such wearable devices can be complex, bulky, and in some cases heavy. As a result, conventional wearable devices can detract from a user's experience with a VR system.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosed invention include fluidic devices used in artificial reality systems. Fluidic devices are fluid handling devices that function analogous to electronic devices (e.g., an electrical transistor, an electrical diode, a resistor, a capacitor, etc.). For example, a fluidic device may be designed such that it operates as a fluidic transistor. Additionally, fluidic devices are composable, meaning that fluidic devices may be coupled together to form a composite fluidic device (e.g., a decoder). In some embodiments, groups of fluidic devices are coupled together to act as controllers for a haptic apparatuses on wearable devices (e.g., haptic gloves) for a VR system.

A fluidic device generally includes a channel that includes an input (e.g., a source) and an output (e.g. a drain). The channel directs a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) from the input to the output. The fluidic device also includes a gate that affects the flow of fluid in the channel. For example, in some embodiments, once a threshold gate pressure is achieved (i.e., a high pressure state), the gate may restrict the fluid flow in the channel. In alternate embodiments, the flow in the channel is restricted until a threshold pressure (i.e., the high pressure state) in the gate is achieved.

In some embodiments, a fluidic device comprises a gate, a channel, and wedge. The gate is comprised of at least one chamber whose volume expands with fluid pressure within the chamber, causing a volume of the chamber to increase. In some embodiments, a high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size. In further embodiments, a low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain. The source is an input that fluid enters in the channel. The drain is an output for the fluid in the channel. The wedge controls a rate of fluid flow between the source and the drain in accordance with the fluid pressure in the gate. In some embodiments, the wedge is configured to induce a first flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the low pressure state of the gate. In further embodiments, the wedge is configured to induce a second flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the high pressure state of the gate, the second flow rate greater than the first flow rate. In some embodiments, such a fluidic device may be incorporated into a haptic device.

Fluidic devices, such as the fluidic device described above, may be composed to create a composite fluidic device. In some embodiments, the composite fluidic device may comprise a first fluidic device coupled to a high pressure rail at a first pressure and a low pressure rail at a second pressure. The second pressure may be less than the first pressure in certain embodiments. The first fluidic device may comprise a first channel and a first gate. The first channel is configured to transport fluid from a first source to a first drain. In some embodiments, the first source is coupled to the high pressure rail and is an input that fluid enters in the channel. The first drain includes an output path for fluid in the first channel. The first gate is configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the first channel by reducing a cross section of the first channel in accordance with logic instructions.

In one embodiment, a wearable device is implemented in a system for providing artificial reality experience to a user who wears the device. In more detail, the wearable device provides haptic feedback to the user in response to instructions from a console of the system. The wearable device includes at least one actuator, and a controller. The controller is composed of a plurality of fluidic devices, including at least one fluidic device described herein. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices are coupled together to form one or more composite fluidic devices. For example, a composite device may be a decoder that is used to address the at least one actuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an example diagram of a composite fluidic device, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is an example diagram a dual rail logic device configured to perform a NOT function, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2B is an example diagram a dual rail logic device configured to perform a NAND function, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2C is an example diagram a two input dual rail logic device configured to perform a NOR function, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2D is an example diagram a four input dual rail logic device configured to perform a NOR function, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a cross section of a fluidic device including side gates and a wedge, the side gates at a low pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the fluidic device shown inFIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a cross section of the fluidic device ofFIG. 3A with the side gates at a high pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a cross section of a jet deflection amplifying fluidic device including a gate at a low pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a cross section of the fluidic device shown inFIG. 4A, with the gate at a high pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a head-mounted device (HMD) system, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example haptic glove for interacting with virtual objects, in accordance with an embodiment.

The figures depict embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles, or benefits touted, of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention may include or be implemented in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtual reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality content may include completely generated content or generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world) content. The artificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, and any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may also be associated with applications, products, accessories, services, or some combination thereof, that are used to, e.g., create content in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificial reality. The artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality content may be implemented on various platforms, including a head-mounted display (HMD) connected to a host computer system, a standalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to one or more viewers.

Fluidic devices are fluid handling devices that function analogous to electronic devices (e.g., an electrical transistor, an electrical diode, a resistor, a capacitor, etc.). Tiny fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) devices are used in artificial reality systems. At a high level, the fluid devices function in a manner similar to conventional electrical transistors such that gate pressure may adjust a flow of a liquid through a channel from a source to a drain. Various embodiments of fluidic devices are discussed in detail below with regard toFIGS. 3A-4B. Additional examples of fluidic devices are found in U.S. Patent Application No. 62/449,323, filed on Jan. 23, 2017, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/452,242, filed on Jan. 30, 2017, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/683,937, filed on Aug. 23, 2017, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/695,272, filed on Sep. 5, 2017, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/706,578, filed on Sep. 15, 2017, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Additionally, the fluidic devices are “composable,” in that a plurality of fluidic devices may be coupled together to generate larger structures. As a fluidic device may be designed to operate as, e.g., a fluidic transistor, multiple fluidic devices can be coupled together to create a composite device that performs certain logical functions in a manner analogous to electrical transistors being used together to form electrical circuits that perform logical functions (e.g., AND gate). Accordingly, a composite fluidic device may perform various logic functions including, e.g., an AND function, a NOT function, a NAND function, an OR function, a NOR function, an exclusive OR function, some other logical function, or some combination thereof. Moreover, multiple composite devices can be coupled together to form even larger fluidic circuits (e.g., a decoder, a controller in a haptic glove, etc.). The composite fluidic device may be structured to perform combination logic, sequential logic, or both, or it may be configured to pass values (e.g. a pass transistor or a pass-gate).

FIG. 1 is an example diagram of acomposite fluidic device100, in accordance with an embodiment. Thecomposite fluidic device100 includes ahigh pressure rail110, alow pressure rail120, one or morefluidic devices130A and130B, aninput interface142 and anoutput interface144. The diagram100 shown inFIG. 1 is merely one example, and in alternative embodiments not shown, the diagram100 may include additional/fewer or different fluidic devices between thehigh pressure rail110 and thehigh pressure rail120. Likewise, the various entities of the diagram100 may differ in different embodiments.

Thehigh pressure rail110 is a structure that provides a fluid at a fixed pressure. The structure is made out of a material that does not readily deform at this pressure, or in another embodiment it is sufficiently capacitive that deformation does not render the device faulty. For example, the structure may be composed of, e.g., high-durometer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and other polymers. In some embodiments, the structure may be flexible. The structure may have a circular cross section, a rectangular cross section, or some other cross section. Alternatively, the structure may be rigid or semi-rigid. The fixed pressure is relatively constant. In some embodiments, thehigh pressure rail110 is connected to a pressurized fluid source, one or more pumps, or some other device that may be used to ensure the fluid in thehigh pressure rail110 is at the first pressure. The fluid may be a liquid or a gas. For example, the fluid may be water, deionized water, alcohol, oil, standard hydraulic fluids, air, and nitrogen. The pressure of fluid in thehigh pressure rail110 is analogous to a rail voltage for a transistor in an electrical system, such that fluid flows away from thehigh pressure rail110 toward areas with lower pressure much in the same way that a rail voltage provide potential for other parts of an electrical circuit. For example, a typical operating pressure of the fluid in thehigh pressure rail110 can be 1-100 PSI (pounds per square inch).

Thelow pressure rail120 is another structure that transmits the fluid. Thelow pressure rail120 provides the fluid at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and is generally at the lowest pressure within thecomposite fluidic device100. The structure is made out of a material that does not deform at the first pressure. For example, the structure may be composed of, e.g., high-durometer PDMS, and other polymers. Thelow pressure rail120 generally functions as a low pressure zone such that fluid from other parts of thecomposite fluidic device100 coupled to thelow pressure rail120 flows toward thelow pressure rail120. The pressure of fluid in thelow pressure rail120 is analogous to an electrical ground in an electrical system. For example, the pressure of the fluid in thelow pressure rail120 can range from high vacuum to 15 PSI. High vacuum may be, e.g., an absolute pressure of 1.45×10⁻⁵PSI or less. In one embodiment, the upper end of the low pressure rail pressure value can be defined as a difference from the high pressure rail, and in this case it could be, e.g., 5 PSI below the high rail regardless of the absolute pressure value of the high rail.

Thefluidic devices130A,130B are fluidic devices that function analogous to transistors in electrical systems, for example, a P-channel field-effect transistor (PFET), or an N-channel field-effect transistor (NFET). As shown inFIG. 1, each of thefluidic devices130A and130B includes a source, a drain, and a gate. In some embodiments, there is a channel filled with fluid between the source and the drain, and the pressure of the fluid in the source is higher than the pressure of the fluid in the drain, allowing the flow in the channel to flow from the source to drain when the channel is open. In one embodiment, when the gate is at a low pressure state, the channel is open; and when the gate is at a high pressure state, the channel is closed. In another embodiment, when the gate is at a high pressure state, the channel is in an open state; and when the gate is at a low pressure state, the channel is in a closed state.

An “open” state of the channel refers to a state when the fluid in the channel is flowing from one end (e.g., the source) to the other end (e.g., the drain) at some open threshold rate. For example, the open threshold rate may be 10 cc/s. The measurement “cc/s” used throughout the specification refers to “cubic-cm/sec.” In contrast, a “closed” state of the channel refers to the state when the flow of fluid in the channel is less than some closed threshold rate. In some embodiments, the closed threshold rate may be zero flow. Alternatively, the closed threshold rate may be some rate of flow that is lower than the open threshold rate. For example, the closed threshold rate may be 0.1 cc/s. In addition, a “transitionary” state occurs when the channel transitions from an open state to a closed state or from a closed state to an open state. The “open” state of the channel is also referred to as an “ON” condition of a fluidic device, and the “closed” state of the channel is also referred to as an “OFF” condition of a fluidic device.

A “high pressure” and “low pressure” described here depends on the fluidic device structures and pressure of the fluid filling the fluidic device. In general, a “low pressure” is a pressure of the fluid that falls within a low pressure range, and a “high pressure” is a pressure of the fluid that falls within a high pressure range. The low pressure range may be thought of as a “0” and the high pressure range may be thought of as a “1.” Accordingly, thefluidic devices130A,130B may operate digitally using the fluid at different pressures. Moreover, different components of a fluidic device may have different high pressure ranges and different low pressure ranges. For example, a high pressure range of a gate may be significantly less than a high pressure range of a source. The range of response times for a channel to open or close can be from 0.1 ms to 30 ms.

Theinput interface142 is an interface that enables thefluidic devices130A,130B to receive inputs. In one embodiment, an input to the fluidic device130 is fluid at a certain pressure that is applied to certain parts of the fluidic device that can cause the fluidic device to be either an “ON” or “OFF” condition. As one example, the input may be fluid at a certain pressure that is applied to the gates of thefluid devices130A,130B. Similarly, theoutput interface144 is an interface that enables thefluidic devices130A,130B to provide outputs.

FIGS. 2A-D are example diagrams of embodiments of dual rail logic devices. In general, dual rail logic devices comprise one or more logic gates. One advantage of using a dual rail logic device is that the device may use one device style, but can still perform various logic functions including, e.g., an AND function, a NOT function, a NAND function, an OR function, a NOR function, an exclusive OR function, some other logical function, or some combination thereof depending upon the combination of the logic gates that comprise the logic device. For example, the dual rail logic devices depicted inFIGS. 2A-D all use the same type of logic gate, but perform a variety of logic functions as discussed below. Additionally, by using multiple logic gates, low pressure inputs can be easily combined to create amplified, high pressure outputs. This increases the energy efficiency of the circuit. Furthermore, whileFIGS. 2A-D expressly depict specific dual rail logic devices comprised of one type of logic gate, alternative dual rail logic devices that are not expressly included herein can be used to perform various logic functions including, e.g., an AND function, a NOT function, a NAND function, an OR function, a NOR function, an exclusive OR function, some other logical function, or some combination thereof.

Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks used to build larger circuit elements such as transistors and resistors. Depending upon the combination and ordering of logic gates used, different transistors and resistors can be built. Typically the medium of the circuits associated with the logic devices depicted inFIGS. 2A-D is electricity. However, in the embodiments ofFIG. 2A-D, the medium of the circuits is any type of fluid, and the circuits are composed of fluidic devices. For example, what is represented as a transistor is a fluidic transistor, what is presented as a resister is a fluidic resistor, etc. In other words, just as electronic transistors and resistors can be built using combinations of different electric logic gates, fluidic transistors and resistors can also be built using combinations of different fluidic logic gates.

Note,FIGS. 2A-2D are all composed of a single type of fluidic transistor that includes a gate, a source, and a drain. The fluidic transistors as illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2D have a fluid flow from the drain at a rate that correspond to an “ON” condition of the fluidic device if the fluid pressure at the gate is in a high state. One example of such a fluidic transistor is discussed below with regard toFIGS. 3A-3C. It should be noted that such logic devices may also be based on fluidic transistors that have a fluid flow from the drain at a rate that correspond to “ON” condition of the fluidic device if the fluid pressure at the gate is in a low state. One example of such a fluidic transistor is discussed below with regard toFIGS. 4A-B.

FIG. 2A is an example diagram200A of a dual rail logic device configured to perform a NOT function, according to an embodiment. The dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2A comprises ahigh pressure rail210, alow pressure rail220, a firstfluidic device230, and aresistor240.

The firstfluidic device230 is coupled to ahigh pressure rail210 at a first pressure and to alow pressure rail220 at a second pressure, and the second pressure is less than the first pressure. The firstfluidic device230 comprises a first channel and a first gate (e.g., G1). The first channel is configured to transport a fluid from a first source (e.g., S1) to a first drain (e.g., D1). The first source is coupled to thehigh pressure rail210 and is an input that fluid enters in the channel. The first drain includes an output path for fluid in the first channel. The first gate is configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the first channel by reducing a cross section of the first channel in accordance with logic instructions. The modulation of the rate of fluid flow in the first channel is dependent upon the configuration of the first gate as discussed in greater detail below. In some embodiments, the firstfluidic device230 is the fluidic device described below with regard toFIGS. 3A-4B. Additional examples of fluidic devices that may be the firstfluidic device230 are found in U.S. Patent Application No. 62/449,323, filed on Jan. 23, 2017, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/452,242, filed on Jan. 30, 2017, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/683,937, filed on Aug. 23, 2017, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/695,272, filed on Sep. 5, 2017, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/706,578, filed on Sep. 15, 2017, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The dual rail logic device ofFIG. 2A further comprises one or more fluidic resistors. For example,FIG. 2A comprises afluidic resistor240. Thefluidic resistor240 comprises an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of thefluidic resistor240 is coupled to the first drain of the firstfluidic device230. The output terminal of thefluidic resistor240 is coupled to thelow pressure rail220. Thefluidic resistor240 is configured to slow a rate of fluid flow between the input terminal and the output terminal of thefluidic resistor240.

The dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2A is configured to perform a NOT function. The firstfluidic device230 is configured such that the firstfluidic device230 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the first gate of the firstfluidic device230 is low. In other words, the dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2A is functionally an inverter. This means that for a first pressure state of the first gate, a fluid pressure at the output terminal of thefluidic resistor240 is higher than a fluid pressure at the output terminal for a second pressure state of the first gate, given that the second pressure state is more than the first pressure state.

FIG. 2B is an example diagram200B of a dual rail logic device configured to perform a NAND function, according to an embodiment. The dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2B comprises thehigh pressure rail210, thelow pressure rail220, the firstfluidic device230, and theresistor240 ofFIG. 2A. Additionally, the dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2B comprises a secondfluidic device250. The second fluidic device is substantially the same as the firstfluidic device230. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2B, the firstfluidic device230 and the secondfluidic device250 both use the same type of logic gate.

The secondfluidic device250 comprises a second channel and a second gate (e.g., G2). Similar to the first channel, the second channel is configured to transport fluid from a second source (e.g., S2) to a second drain (e.g., D2). The second source is an input that fluid enters the second channel. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown inFIG. 2B, the second source is coupled to thehigh pressure rail210. The second drain includes an output path for fluid in the second channel. In some embodiments, the first drain and the second drain are coupled to the input terminal of thefluidic resistor240. Similar to the first gate, the second gate is configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the second channel by reducing a cross section of the second channel in accordance with logic instructions of the first gate. The modulation of the rate of fluid flow in the second channel is also dependent upon the configuration of the second gate as discussed in greater detail below.

The dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2B is configured to perform a NAND function. The firstfluidic device230 and the secondfluidic device250 are configured such that the firstfluidic device230 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the first gate of the firstfluidic device230 is low and such that the secondfluidic device250 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the second gate of the secondfluidic device250 is low.

FIG. 2C is an example diagram200C of a two input dual rail logic device configured to perform a NOR function, according to an embodiment. The two input dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2C comprises thehigh pressure rail210, thelow pressure rail220, the firstfluidic device230, theresistor240, and the secondfluidic device250. As discussed with regard toFIG. 2B, the firstfluidic device230 and the secondfluidic device250 both use the same type of logic gate. However the firstfluidic device230 and the secondfluidic device250 are arranged differently inFIG. 2C than inFIG. 2B, and as a result, the function performed by the dual rail fluidic device ofFIG. 2C is different than the function performed by the dual rail fluidic device ofFIG. 2B. Specifically, as seen inFIG. 2C, the first drain of the firstfluidic device230 is coupled to the second source of the secondfluidic device250, and the second drain of the secondfluidic device250 is coupled to the input terminal of thefluidic resistor240.

The dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2C is configured to perform a NOR function. The firstfluidic device230 and the secondfluidic device250 are configured such that the firstfluidic device230 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the first gate of the firstfluidic device230 is low and such that the secondfluidic device250 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the second gate of the secondfluidic device250 is low.

FIG. 2D is an example diagram200D of a four input dual rail logic device configured to perform a NOR function, according to an embodiment. The four input dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2D comprises thehigh pressure rail210, thelow pressure rail220, the firstfluidic device230, and theresistor240, and the secondfluidic device250. Additionally, the four input dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2D comprises a thirdfluidic device260 and a fourth fluidic device270, both of which are substantially the same as the firstfluidic device230.

The thirdfluidic device260 comprises a third channel and a third gate (e.g., G3). The third channel is configured to transport fluid from a third source (e.g., S3) to a third drain (e.g., D3). The third source is an input that fluid enters the third channel. The third drain includes an output path for fluid in the third channel. The third gate is configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the third channel by reducing a cross section of the third channel in accordance with logic instructions of the first gate and the second gate. The modulation of the rate of fluid flow in the third channel is also dependent upon the configuration of the third gate as discussed in greater detail below.

The fourth fluidic device270 comprises a fourth channel and a fourth gate (e.g., G4). The fourth channel is configured to transport fluid from a fourth source (e.g., S4) to a fourth drain (e.g., D4). The fourth source is an input that fluid enters the fourth channel. The fourth drain includes an output path for fluid in the fourth channel. The fourth gate is configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the fourth channel by reducing a cross section of the fourth channel in accordance with logic instructions of the first gate, the second gate, and the third gate. The modulation of the rate of fluid flow in the fourth channel is also dependent upon the configuration of the fourth gate as discussed in greater detail below.

In the four input dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2D, the first drain is coupled to the second source, the second drain is coupled to the third source and the fourth source, and the third drain and the fourth drain are coupled to the input terminal of thefluidic resistor240.

The four input dual rail logic device depicted inFIG. 2D is configured to perform a NOR function. The firstfluidic device230, the secondfluidic device250, the thirdfluidic device260, and the fourth fluidic device270 are configured such that the firstfluidic device230 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the first gate of the firstfluidic device230 is low, such that the secondfluidic device250 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the second gate of the secondfluidic device250 is low, such that the thirdfluidic device260 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the third gate of the thirdfluidic device260 is low, and such that the fourth fluidic device270 is “ON” while a fluidic pressure in the fourth gate of the fourth fluidic device270 is low.

FIG. 3A is across section300 of afluidic device305 includingside gates310A and310B and awedge330, thegates310A and310B at a low pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment. Thefluidic device305 also includes achannel320 that receives fluid flowing from a source (not shown) and outputs the fluid to a drain (not shown). Theside gates310A and310B serve to displace thewedge330 such that thewedge330 is able to regulate fluid flow through thechannel320. Thefluidic device305 also includes apre-loaded gate315. Thepre-loaded gate315 is configured to control the magnitude of displacement of thewedge330. In some embodiments, thefluidic device305 is thefluidic device130A or130B shown inFIG. 1. In one embodiment, the source, the drain, and theside gates310A and310B function analogous to the source, drain, and gates in a field effect transistor in an electrical system.

Thechannel320 is a structure that connects two ends that are referred to as the source and the drain, and thechannel320 is filled with a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas). In one embodiment, thechannel320 can be a flexible tube filled with fluid. Thechannel320 may have different types of shapes, sizes and/or be made from different materials. As one example, the cross section of thechannel320 may be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, etc. Thechannel320 may be composed of materials such as silicone (a type of elastomer), plastic, etc., and example materials used are polymers such as PDMS. The size can range from 50 um to 5 mm.

Thewedge330 is positioned within thechannel320 between the source and the drain such that thewedge330 at least partially obstructs (and in some embodiments completely blocks) fluid flow between the source and the drain. Specifically, thewedge330 protrudes through an opening of thechannel320, into thechannel320. Thewedge330 is able to translate along the y-axis within the opening of thechannel320 such that the distance that thewedge330 protrudes into thechannel320 can be increased or decreased. Thewedge330 fits within the opening of thechannel320 such that fluid within thechannel320 is unable to escape through the opening.

Thewedge330 may have different types of shapes, sizes and/or be made from different materials. For instance, thewedge330 may be composed of materials such as silicone (a type of elastomer), plastic, etc., and example materials used are polymers such as PDMS. In the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 3A-C, thewedge330 comprises afirst end335 and asecond end340. Thefirst end335 is located adjacent to thechannel320 and thesecond end340 is located adjacent to thepre-loaded gate315. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown inFIGS. 3A-C, a width (in the x axis) of thewedge330 is tapered such that a width (in the x axis) of thefirst end335 is less than a width (in the x axis) of thesecond end340. In further embodiments, the width of thefirst end335 is greater than a diameter of thechannel320 such that the width of thefirst end335 is able to extend across the diameter of thechannel320.

Theside gates310A and310B are a part of thefluidic device305 and function analogous to gates of an electronic transistor in an electrical system. Theside gates310A and310B are located outside of thechannel320 on either lateral side of thechannel320 and above thechannel320. As seen inFIG. 3A, in some embodiments, theside gates310A and310B are positioned such that a space exists between theside gates310A and310B and thewedge330. Theside gates310A and310B are also located such that at least a portion of each of theside gates310A and310B is located directly beneath at least a portion of thewedge330. Thus the location of theside gates310A and310B may depend on the shape and dimensions of thewedge330.

Eachside gate310A and310B comprises a chamber whose volume expands with fluid pressure within the chamber, causing a volume of the chamber to increase. In other words, eachside gate310A and310B may be inflated by input of fluid and/or may be deflated by output of fluid. For simplicity, the input and output of theside gates310A and310B are not shown inFIG. 3A. In some embodiments, the input to theside gates310A and310B may be from some other fluidic device. Likewise, in some embodiments, the output of theside gates310A and310B may be coupled to other fluidic devices. Theside gates310A and310B may have different shapes, sizes and/or may be made from different materials. As one example, the cross section of theside gates310A and310B may be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, etc. In some embodiments, theside gates310A and310B are made of a flexible and extensible material such that theside gates310A and310B may be inflated by increasing the pressure of fluid within theside gates310A and310B. For instance, theside gates310A and310B may be composed of materials such as silicone (a type of elastomer), plastic, etc., and example materials used are polymers such as PDMS. Similarly, theside gates310A and310B may be deflated by decreasing the pressure of fluid within theside gates310A and310B. As discussed in further detail below, a high pressure state of theside gates310A and310B corresponds to a first chamber size, and a low pressure state of theside gates310A and310B corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. In certain embodiments, expansion of theside gates310A and310B may be restricted on one or more sides of theside gates310A and310B to promote expansion of theside gates310A and310B in a specific direction. For example in one embodiment, expansion of theside gates310A and310B may be restricted on certain sides such that theside gates310A and310B preferentially expand along the x-axis in the direction of thewedge330 and along the y-axis in the direction of thepre-loaded gate315.

Thepre-loaded gate315 is located above thewedge330. Specifically, thepre-loaded gate315 has a greater y-coordinate value than thewedge330. In some embodiments, the position of thepre-loaded gate315 inside thefluidic device305 is fixed relative to thefluidic device305 itself, such that thepre-loaded gate315 restricts movement of thewedge330 in the positive y-direction. In some embodiments, thepre-loaded gate315 is made out of a material that has a high resistance to stretch such that it at least has a higher resistance to stretch than the base materials (e.g., underlying substrate) of thefluidic device305. For example, a stiffness of thepre-loaded gate315 is at least 10 times as stiff as the base materials. Thepre-loaded gate315 may be, e.g., a stiff fabric, a plastic, a stiff elastomer, a glass, a rigid material with a ratio of stiffness of the base material that is 10 to 100 times that of the base material, or some combination thereof.

Thepre-loaded gate315 can have shapes or compositions. As one example, as shown inFIGS. 3A-C, thepre-loaded gate315 is a rectangular-shaped element. The distance between thepre-loaded gate315 and thewedge330 may vary in different embodiments to achieve different effects of control of the movement of thewedge330 in the positive y-direction. For example, the distance between thepre-loaded gate315 and thewedge330 may be greater to allow thewedge330 to move a greater distance in the positive y-direction compared with a smaller distance between thepre-loaded gate315 and thewedge330 in another embodiment. In alternative embodiments, the distance between thepre-loaded gate315 and thewedge330 may be zero, such that thepre-loaded gate315 is continuously in contact with thewedge330. This may prevent thewedge330 from shifting its position if thefluidic device305 moves.

As shown inFIG. 3A, while theside gates310A and310B are in a low pressure state, they are deflated. As a result, thewedge330 protrudes into thechannel320 such that fluid flow through thechannel320 is at a closed threshold rate such that thefluidic device305 is in an “OFF” condition.

FIG. 3B is aside view325 of thefluidic device305 shown inFIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3B, while theside gates310A and310B are in a low pressure state, they are deflated. As a result, thewedge330 protrudes into thechannel320 such that fluid flow through thechannel320 is at a closed threshold rate such that thefluidic device305 is in an “OFF” condition.

FIG. 3C is across section350 of thefluidic device305 ofFIG. 3A with theside gates310A and310B at a high pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment. InFIG. 3C, the fluid pressure within theside gates310A and310B is such that theside gates310A and310B have inflated to exert pressure on thewedge330, effectively lifting thewedge330 at least partially out of thechannel320 such that the distance that thewedge330 protrudes into thechannel320 is decreased. This lifting of thewedge330 out of thechannel320 creates a path for fluid flow through thechannel320 and increases the flow rate in thechannel320 to an open threshold rate such that thefluidic device305 is in an “ON” condition. Thepre-loaded gate315 is positioned to control the distance that thewedge330 can be lifted out of thechannel320.

Thefluidic device305 transits from a closed state (FIG. 3A-B) to an open state (FIG. 3C) by increasing fluid pressure at theside gates310A and310B. During a transitionary period (not shown), theside gates310A and310B gradually expand (with increasing pressure) to lift thewedge330 at least partially out of thechannel320, and thechannel320 is gradually unblocked such that the rate of fluid flow through thechannel320 is gradually increased. When the fluid flow reaches an open threshold value, thefluidic device305 is in an “ON” condition.

In alternative embodiments not shown inFIGS. 3A-3C, theside gates310A and310B may not have a flexible shape that can expand or shrink with the different fluid pressure applied within theside gates310A and310B. In this case, instead of expanding to open thechannel320, extra pressure from outside theside gates310A and310B may be applied to theside gates310A and310B to make theside gates310A and310B move towards and lift thewedge330, causing thechannel320 to be opened. For example, co-casted materials may be placed around theside gates310A and310B such that theside gates310A and310B substantially deform only in the direction of thewedge330. Co-casted materials and their use in fluidic devices is further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/706,578, filed on Sep. 15, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 4A is across section400 of a jet deflection amplifyingfluidic device405 including agate410 at a low pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment. Thefluidic device405 includes thegate410, and achannel420 that receives fluid flowing from asource430 and outputs the fluid to adrain440. As seen inFIGS. 4A and 4B, thegate410 is connected to thechannel420 such that fluid may flow from thegate410 into thechannel420. In addition to thegate410, analternate path415 is also connected to thechannel420 such that fluid may flow between thechannel420 and thealternate path415. In some embodiments, thefluidic device405 is thefluidic device130A or130B shown inFIG. 1. In one embodiment, thesource430, thedrain440 and thegate410 function analogous to the source, drain and gate in a field effect transistor in an electrical system.

Thechannel420 is a structure that connects two ends that are referred to as thesource430 and thedrain440, and thechannel420 is filled with a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas). In one embodiment, thechannel420 can be a flexible tube filled with fluid. Thechannel420 may have different types of shapes, sizes and/or be made from different materials. As one example, the cross section of thechannel420 may be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, etc. Thechannel420 may be composed of materials such as silicone (a type of elastomer), plastic, etc., and example materials used are polymers such as PDMS. The size can range from 50 um to 5 mm.

Thegate410 is a part of thefluidic device405 and functions analogous to a gate of an electronic transistor in an electrical system. As noted above, thegate410 is connected to thechannel420 such that fluid can flow from thegate410 into thechannel420. For simplicity, the input of thegate410 is not shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. In some embodiments, the input to thegate410 may receive fluid from some other fluidic device. In one embodiment, thegate410 can be a flexible tube filled with fluid. Thegate410 may have different types of shapes, sizes and/or be made from different materials. As one example, the cross section of thegate410 may be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, etc. Thegate410 may be composed of materials such as silicone (a type of elastomer), plastic, etc., and example materials used are polymers such as PDMS. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, thegate410 is connected to thechannel420 at a 90 degree angle such that fluid from thegate410 flows into thechannel420 perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow in thechannel420. However, in alternative embodiments, thegate410 may be connected to thechannel420 at a range of angles.

Thealternate path415 is a part of thefluidic device405 that is also connected to thechannel420 such that fluid can flow from thechannel420 into thealternate path415. For simplicity, the output of thealternate path415 is not shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B. In some embodiments, the output of thealternate path415 may receive fluid from some other fluidic device. In one embodiment, thealternate path415 can be a flexible tube filled with fluid. Thealternate path415 may have different types of shapes, sizes and/or be made from different materials. As one example, the cross section of thealternate path415 may be circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, etc. Thealternate path415 may be composed of materials such as silicone (a type of elastomer), plastic, etc., and example materials used are polymers such as PDMS. Thealternate path415 is located downstream of the gate410 (i.e. closer to the drain440) on a side of thechannel420 that is opposite thegate410. Furthermore, thealternate path415 is connected to thechannel420 at an angle such that the combined volume of fluid from thegate410 and thechannel420 can be redirected into thealternate path415.

As shown inFIG. 4A, when thegate410 is in a low pressure state, there is no fluid flow between thegate410 and thechannel420. Because there is no fluid flow from thegate410 to thechannel420, fluid is able to flow unhindered from thesource430 to thedrain440 at an open threshold rate such that the fluidic device is in an “ON” condition. Note that a relatively small amount of fluid may flow from thechannel420 to thealternate path415, but this amount of fluid is negligible compared to the amount of fluid that flows into thedrain440.

FIG. 4B is across section450 of thefluidic device405 shown inFIG. 4A, with thegate410 at a high pressure state, in accordance with an embodiment. Thefluidic device405 transits from an open state (FIG. 4A) to a closed state (FIG. 4B) by increasing fluid pressure at thegate410. During a transitory period (not shown), fluid pressure within thegate410 is gradually increased causing fluid flow from thegate410 into thechannel420 to increase. This results in fluid within thechannel420 being redirected to thealternate path415. Specifically, fluid from thegate410 enters thechannel420 at an orientation that is perpendicular to the fluid flowing through thechannel420. The velocity of the fluid flowing from thegate410 and of the velocity of the fluid flowing through thechannel420 can be combined, and result in an average velocity that is directed to thealternate path415. Thus fluid originating from both thesource430 and from thegate410 flows into thealternate path415. This redirection of fluid to thealternate path415 effectively blocks fluid flow into thedrain440 such that flow is at a closed threshold rate and such that thefluidic device405 is in an “OFF” condition. Note that a relatively small amount of fluid may flow to thedrain440, but this amount of fluid is negligible compared to the amount of fluid that flows into thealternate path415. The jet deflection amplifyingfluidic device405 is further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/683,937, filed on Aug. 23, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a head-mounted device (HMD)system500, in accordance with one embodiment. Thesystem500 may be for use as an artificial reality system. Thesystem500 may utilize one or more of the example fluidic devices depicted inFIGS. 3A-4B and/or some other form of fluidic device. Thesystem500 shown byFIG. 5 comprises aHMD510, an imaging device515, and ahaptic assembly505 that are each coupled to aconsole520. WhileFIG. 5 shows anexample system500 including oneHMD510, one imaging device515, and onehaptic assembly505, in other embodiments any number of these components may be included in thesystem500. For example, there may bemultiple HMDs510 each having an associatedhaptic assembly505 and being monitored by one or more imaging devices515, with eachHMD510,haptic assembly505, and imaging devices515 communicating with theconsole520. In alternative configurations, different and/or additional components may be included in thesystem environment500. Additionally, in some embodiments theVR system500 may be modified to include other system environments, such as an AR system environment.

TheHMD510 may act as an artificial reality HMD. TheHMD510 presents content to a user. Examples of media presented by theHMD510 include one or more images, video, audio, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, audio is presented via an external device (e.g., speakers and/or headphones) that receives audio information from theHMD510, theconsole520, or both, and presents audio data based on the audio information. TheHMD510 may comprise one or more rigid bodies, which may be rigidly or non-rigidly coupled to each other together. A rigid coupling between rigid bodies causes the coupled rigid bodies to act as a single rigid entity. In contrast, a non-rigid coupling between rigid bodies allows the rigid bodies to move relative to each other. TheHMD510 includes anelectronic display525, anoptics block530, one ormore locators535, one ormore position sensors540, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU)545.

Theelectronic display525 displays 2D or 3D images to the user in accordance with data received from theconsole520. In various embodiments, theelectronic display525 comprises a single electronic display element or multiple electronic displays (e.g., a display for each eye of a user). Examples of the electronic display element include: a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an inorganic light emitting diode (ILED) display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, a transparent organic light emitting diode (TOLED) display, a waveguide display, some other display, or some combination thereof.

The optics block530 magnifies received light from theelectronic display525, corrects optical errors associated with the image light, and the corrected image light is presented to a user of theHMD510. An optical element may be an aperture, a Fresnel lens, a convex lens, a concave lens, a filter, or any other suitable optical element that affects the image light emitted from theelectronic display525. Moreover, the optics block530 may include combinations of different optical elements. In some embodiments, one or more of the optical elements in the optics block530 may have one or more coatings, such as anti-reflective coatings.

Thelocators535 are objects located in specific positions on theHMD510 relative to one another and relative to a specific reference point on theHMD510. Alocator535 may be a light emitting diode (LED), a corner cube reflector, a reflective marker, a type of light source that contrasts with an environment in which theHMD510 operates, or some combination thereof. In embodiments where thelocators535 are active (i.e., an LED or other type of light emitting device), thelocators535 may emit light in the visible band (˜380 nm to 750 nm), in the infrared (IR) band (˜750 nm to 1 mm), in the ultraviolet band (10 nm to 380 nm), some other portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, or some combination thereof.

In some embodiments, thelocators535 are located beneath an outer surface of theHMD510, which is transparent to the wavelengths of light emitted or reflected by thelocators535 or is thin enough to not substantially attenuate the wavelengths of light emitted or reflected by thelocators535. Additionally, in some embodiments, the outer surface or other portions of theHMD510 are opaque in the visible band of wavelengths of light. Thus, thelocators535 may emit light in the IR band under an outer surface that is transparent in the IR band but opaque in the visible band.

TheIMU545 is an electronic device that generates IMU data based on measurement signals received from one or more of theposition sensors540. Aposition sensor550 generates one or more measurement signals in response to motion of theHMD510. Examples ofposition sensors540 include: one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, another suitable type of sensor that detects motion, a type of sensor used for error correction of theIMU545, or some combination thereof. Theposition sensors540 may be located external to theIMU545, internal to theIMU545, or some combination thereof.

Based on the one or more measurement signals from one ormore position sensors540, theIMU545 generates IMU data indicating an estimated position of theHMD510 relative to an initial position of theHMD510. For example, theposition sensors540 include multiple accelerometers to measure translational motion (forward/back, up/down, left/right) and multiple gyroscopes to measure rotational motion (e.g., pitch, yaw, roll). In some embodiments, theIMU545 rapidly samples the measurement signals and calculates the estimated position of theHMD510 from the sampled data. For example, theIMU545 integrates the measurement signals received from the accelerometers over time to estimate a velocity vector and integrates the velocity vector over time to determine an estimated position of a reference point on theHMD510. Alternatively, theIMU545 provides the sampled measurement signals to theconsole520, which determines the IMU data. The reference point is a point that may be used to describe the position of theHMD510. While the reference point may generally be defined as a point in space; however, in practice the reference point is defined as a point within the HMD510 (e.g., a center of the IMU545).

TheIMU545 receives one or more calibration parameters from theconsole520. As further discussed below, the one or more calibration parameters are used to maintain tracking of theHMD510. Based on a received calibration parameter, theIMU545 may adjust one or more IMU parameters (e.g., sample rate). In some embodiments, certain calibration parameters cause theIMU545 to update an initial position of the reference point so it corresponds to a next calibrated position of the reference point. Updating the initial position of the reference point as the next calibrated position of the reference point helps reduce accumulated error associated with the determined estimated position. The accumulated error, also referred to as drift error, causes the estimated position of the reference point to “drift” away from the actual position of the reference point over time.

The imaging device515 generates slow calibration data in accordance with calibration parameters received from theconsole520. Slow calibration data includes one or more images showing observed positions of thelocators535 that are detectable by the imaging device515. The imaging device515 may include one or more cameras, one or more video cameras, any other device capable of capturing images including one or more of thelocators535, or some combination thereof. Additionally, the imaging device515 may include one or more filters (e.g., used to increase signal to noise ratio). The imaging device515 is designed to detect light emitted or reflected fromlocators535 in a field of view of the imaging device515. In embodiments where thelocators535 include passive elements (e.g., a retroreflector), the imaging device515 may include a light source that illuminates some or all of thelocators535, which retro-reflect the light towards the light source in the imaging device515. Slow calibration data is communicated from the imaging device515 to theconsole520, and the imaging device515 receives one or more calibration parameters from theconsole520 to adjust one or more imaging parameters (e.g., focal length, focus, frame rate, ISO, sensor temperature, shutter speed, aperture, etc.).

Thehaptic assembly505 is a device that allows a user to send action requests to theconsole520. An action request is a request to perform a particular action. For example, an action request may be to start or end an application or to perform a particular action within the application. Thehaptic assembly505 also provides haptic feedback including a perception of contacting a virtual object. In one embodiment, thehaptic assembly505 includes a plurality of composable fluidic devices, such as the fluidic devices depicted inFIGS. 3A-4B, which may form one or more composite fluidic devices. The composite fluidic devices may be used to, e.g., address actuators included in thehaptic assembly505 according to the haptic feedback signal from theconsole520. In one embodiment, as more fully described below inFIG. 6, thehaptic assembly505 is ahaptic glove600 through which theconsole520 enables a user to interact with a virtual object. In a further embodiment, thehaptic assembly505 includes acontroller630 that is described below with regard toFIG. 6. As described below, in some embodiments, thecontroller630 can include a plurality of composable fluidic devices, such as the fluidic devices depicted inFIGS. 3A-4B, which may form one or more composite fluidic devices.

InFIG. 5, thehaptic assembly505 further includeslocators550, one ormore position sensors555, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU)560. In some embodiments, thelocators550, one ormore position sensors555, an inertial measurement unit (IMU)560 are installed to determine a physical position or movement of thehaptic assembly505. In addition, thehaptic assembly505 receives, from theconsole520, a haptic feedback signal corresponding to haptic feedback to the user. Thehaptic assembly505 provides to the user with the haptic feedback of touching a virtual object in a virtual space, according to the haptic feedback signal. Specifically, thehaptic assembly505 prevents or enables a physical movement of a portion of a user in contact with the virtual object in the virtual space. For example, if a user's finger is in contact with a virtual object (e.g., a virtual wall) in a virtual space, thehaptic assembly505 prevents a physical movement of the user finger to move in a direction through the virtual object in the virtual space. Accordingly, the user can receive a perception of contacting the virtual object.

In one embodiment, the haptic feedback signal indicates a position or a portion of thehaptic assembly505 to be actuated, and an amount of actuation of the position or the portion of thehaptic assembly505 for providing haptic feedback. In this embodiment, the amount of actuation is determined by, e.g., theconsole520, according to a virtual position of thehaptic assembly505 corresponding to a physical position of thehaptic assembly505 and a virtual position of a virtual object in a virtual space. Thehaptic assembly505 provides tactile perception of a user touching the virtual object according to the amount of actuation indicated by the haptic feedback signal.

Thelocators550 are objects located in specific positions on thehaptic assembly505 relative to one another and relative to a specific reference point of thehaptic assembly505 on thehaptic assembly505. Alocator550 is substantially similar to alocator535 except that alocator550 is part of thehaptic assembly505. Additionally, in some embodiments, the outer surface or other portions of thehaptic assembly505 are opaque in the visible band of wavelengths of light. Thus, thelocators550 may emit light in the IR band under an outer surface that is transparent in the IR band but opaque in the visible band.

Aposition sensor555 generates one or more measurement signals in response to motion of thehaptic assembly505. Theposition sensors555 are substantially similar to thepositions sensors550, except that theposition sensors555 are part of thehaptic assembly505. Theposition sensors555 may be located external to theIMU560, internal to theIMU560, or some combination thereof.

Based on the one or more measurement signals from one ormore position sensors555, theIMU560 generates IMU data of thehaptic assembly505 indicating an estimated position of thehaptic assembly505 relative to an initial position of thehaptic assembly505. For example, theposition sensors555 include multiple accelerometers to measure translational motion (forward/back, up/down, left/right) and multiple gyroscopes to measure rotational motion (e.g., pitch, yaw, roll) of thehaptic assembly505. In some embodiments, theIMU560 rapidly samples the measurement signals and calculates the estimated position of thehaptic assembly505 from the sampled data. For example, theIMU560 integrates the measurement signals received from the accelerometers over time to estimate a velocity vector and integrates the velocity vector over time to determine an estimated position of a reference point of thehaptic assembly505. Alternatively, theIMU560 provides the sampled measurement signals to theconsole520, which determines the IMU data of thehaptic assembly505. The reference point of thehaptic assembly505 is a point that may be used to describe the position of thehaptic assembly505. While the reference point of thehaptic assembly505 may generally be defined as a point in space; however, in practice the reference point of thehaptic assembly505 is defined as a point within the haptic assembly505 (e.g., a center of the IMU560).

TheIMU560 receives one or more calibration parameters of thehaptic assembly505 from theconsole520. As further discussed below, the one or more calibration parameters of thehaptic assembly505 are used to maintain tracking of thehaptic assembly505. Based on a received calibration parameter of thehaptic assembly505, theIMU560 may adjust one or more IMU parameters (e.g., sample rate). In some embodiments, certain calibration parameters of thehaptic assembly505 cause theIMU560 to update an initial position of the reference point of thehaptic assembly505 so it corresponds to a next calibrated position of the reference point of thehaptic assembly505. Updating the initial position of the reference point of thehaptic assembly505 as the next calibrated position of the reference point of thehaptic assembly505 helps reduce accumulated error associated with the determined estimated position.

Theconsole520 provides media to theHMD510 for presentation to the user in accordance with information received from one or more of: the imaging device515, theHMD510, and thehaptic assembly505. In the example shown inFIG. 5, theconsole520 includes anapplication store565, atracking module570, and anengine575. Some embodiments of theconsole520 have different modules than those described in conjunction withFIG. 5. Similarly, the functions further described below may be distributed among components of theconsole520 in a different manner than is described here.

Theapplication store565 stores one or more applications for execution by theconsole520. An application is a group of instructions, that when executed by a processor, generates content for presentation to the user. Content generated by an application may be in response to inputs received from the user via movement of theHMD510 or thehaptic assembly505. Examples of applications include: gaming applications, conferencing applications, video playback application, or other suitable applications.

Thetracking module570 calibrates theVR system560 using one or more calibration parameters and may adjust one or more calibration parameters to reduce error in determination of the position of theHMD510. For example, thetracking module570 adjusts the focus of the imaging device515 to obtain a more accurate position for observed locators on theHMD510. Moreover, calibration performed by thetracking module570 also accounts for information received from theIMU545. Additionally, if tracking of theHMD510 is lost (e.g., the imaging device515 loses line of sight of at least a threshold number of the locators535), thetracking module570 re-calibrates some or all of thesystem environment560.

Thetracking module570 tracks movements of theHMD510 using slow calibration information from the imaging device515. Thetracking module570 determines positions of a reference point of theHMD510 using observed locators from the slow calibration information and a model of theHMD510. Thetracking module570 also determines positions of a reference point of theHMD510 using position information from the fast calibration information. Additionally, in some embodiments, thetracking module570 may use portions of the fast calibration information, the slow calibration information, or some combination thereof, to predict a future location of theheadset510. Thetracking module570 provides the estimated or predicted future position of theHMD510 to theengine575.

Theengine575 executes applications within thesystem environment560 and receives position information, acceleration information, velocity information, predicted future positions, or some combination thereof of theHMD510 from thetracking module570. Based on the received information, theengine575 determines content to provide to theHMD510 for presentation to the user. For example, if the received information indicates that the user has looked to the left, theengine575 generates content for theHMD510 that mirrors the user's movement in a virtual environment. Additionally, theengine575 performs an action within an application executing on theconsole520 in response to an action request received from thehaptic assembly505 and provides feedback to the user that the action was performed. The provided feedback may be visual or audible feedback via theHMD510 or haptic feedback via thehaptic assembly505.

FIG. 6 is an examplehaptic glove600 for interacting with virtual objects, in accordance with an embodiment. Thehaptic glove600 shown inFIG. 6 includes a glove body610, a haptic apparatus620, acontroller630, asignaling path640, one ormore locators550, aposition sensor555 and anIMU560. Only onesignaling path640, one haptic apparatus620, oneposition sensor555 and oneIMU560 are shown inFIG. 6 to simplify the description. In alternative embodiments not shown, thehaptic glove600 can include multiple signaling paths, position sensors and haptic apparatus that are connected to thecontroller630, for example, for each finger of thehaptic glove600, a set of haptic apparatus, position sensors and IMUs may be connected to the controller. Likewise, the functions performed by the various entities of thehaptic glove600 may differ in different embodiments. Additionally, the various entities of thehaptic glove600 may be positioned in different places on the glove body610. As one example, additional haptic apparatuses620 and theposition sensors555 are located at different parts of the glove body610. As another example, the haptic apparatuses620 are coupled to or wrap the entire fingers of the glove body610. As another example, thecontroller630 is coupled to a different portion of the glove body610 corresponding to, for example a wrist or a palm.

The glove body610 is an apparatus covering a hand, for example, a garment that is coupled to theposition sensor555, the haptic apparatus620, thecontroller630, and thesignaling path640. In one embodiment, theposition sensor555 is coupled to a corresponding finger of the glove body610 (e.g., a portion corresponding to a fingertip of the glove body); the haptic apparatus620 is coupled to a corresponding finger portion (e.g., a portion corresponding to a joint between two phalanges) of the glove body610; and thecontroller630 is coupled to a portion of the glove body610 corresponding to a back of a hand (i.e., dorsal side). Thesignaling path640 is coupled between thecontroller630 and the haptic apparatus620. In one embodiment, one or more of these components are placed beneath an outer surface of the glove body610, thus are not visible from the outside. Additionally or alternatively, some of these components are placed on an outer surface of the glove body610, and are visually detectable.

In one embodiment, thehaptic glove600 may be thehaptic assembly505 shown inFIG. 5 and thelocators550, theposition sensor555 and theIMU560 of thehaptic glove600 may be thecorresponding locators550,position sensors555 andIMUs560 of thehaptic assembly505 shown inFIG. 5. A user's hand movement can be detected and tracked according to IMU data from theIMU560 and/or slow calibration of thelocators550 from the imaging device515. Moreover, haptic feedback including a perception of a user contacting a virtual object can be provided to the user by thecontroller630, signalingpath640, and haptic apparatus620.

The haptic apparatus620 provides haptic feedback including a perception of a user touching a virtual object. In one embodiment, the haptic apparatus620 is actuated according to instructions received from thecontroller630. In one embodiment, the haptic apparatus620 is coupled to a portion corresponding to a joint between two phalanges of the glove body610. In another embodiment, the haptic apparatus620 covers the entire glove body610 or are placed on other parts (e.g., an area corresponding to a joint between two different fingers) of the glove body610. The haptic apparatus620 may be, for example, a plurality of actuators.

Thecontroller630 is a device that provides instructions for the haptic apparatus620 to perform specific functions. Thecontroller630 may receive instructions or haptic feedback from theconsole520 and actuates the haptic apparatus620 accordingly. Thecontroller630 includes a plurality of fluidic devices, such as the fluidic devices depicted inFIGS. 3A-4B, which generate instructions for one or more haptic apparatuses (e.g., actuators). As discussed in detail above with regard toFIGS. 1, 2A-D, and5, fluidic devices are composable and may be coupled together to form composite fluidic devices, like, e.g., a decoder. Decoders, for example, can help reduce a number of logical connections within thecontroller630 and/or connections to the haptic apparatus620. Accordingly, thecontroller630 may be composed of a plurality of fluidic devices, including various combinations of those described above with regard toFIGS. 3A-4B.

Additional Configuration Information

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.

Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the disclosure in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof.

Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described.

Embodiments of the disclosure may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability.

Embodiments of the disclosure may also relate to a product that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product may comprise information resulting from a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination described herein.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims (16)

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:

a first fluidic device coupled to a high pressure rail at a first pressure and a low pressure rail at a second pressure that is less than the first pressure, the first fluidic device comprising:

a first channel configured to transport a fluid from a first source to a first drain, wherein the first source is coupled to the high pressure rail and is an input that fluid enters the channel, and the first drain includes an output path for fluid in the first channel; and

a first gate configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the first channel by reducing a cross section of the first channel in accordance with logic instructions; and

a second fluidic device comprising:

a second channel configured to transport a fluid from a second source to a second drain, wherein the second source is an input that fluid enters the second channel, the second source is coupled to the high pressure rail, and the second drain includes an output path for fluid in the second channel; and

a second gate configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the second channel by reducing a cross section of the second channel in accordance with the logic instructions of the first gate,

wherein the device functionally is a NAND gate.

2. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a third fluidic device comprising:

a third channel configured to transport a fluid from a third source to a third drain, wherein the third source is an input that fluid enters the third channel, and the third drain includes an output path for fluid in the third channel; and

a third gate configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the third channel by reducing a cross section of the third channel in accordance with logic instructions of the first gate and the second gate; and

a fourth fluidic device comprising:

a fourth channel configured to transport a fluid from a fourth source to a fourth drain, wherein the fourth source is an input that fluid enters the fourth channel, and the fourth drain includes an output path for fluid in the fourth channel; and

a fourth gate configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the fourth channel by reducing a cross section of the fourth channel in accordance with logic instructions of the first gate, the second gate, and the third gate.

3. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the first drain is coupled to the second source, the second drain is coupled to the third source and the fourth source and wherein the device functionally is a NOR gate.

4. A device comprising:

a first fluidic device coupled to a high pressure rail at a first pressure and a low pressure rail at a second pressure that is less than the first pressure, the first fluidic device comprising:

a first channel configured to transport a fluid from a first source to a first drain, wherein the first source is coupled to the high pressure rail and is an input that fluid enters the channel, and the first drain includes an output path for fluid in the first channel; and

a first gate configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the first channel by reducing a cross section of the first channel in accordance with logic instructions; and

a second fluidic device comprising:

a second channel configured to transport a fluid from a second source to a second drain, wherein the second source is an input that fluid enters the second channel, and the second drain includes an output path for fluid in the second channel; and

a second gate configured to modulate a rate of fluid flow in the second channel by reducing a cross section of the second channel in accordance with the logic instructions of the first gate,

wherein the first drain is coupled to the second source and wherein the device functionally is a NOR gate.

5. A fluidic device comprising:

a gate comprised of at least one chamber whose volume expands with fluid pressure within the chamber causing a volume of the chamber to increase, wherein a high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size, and a low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size;

a channel configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain, wherein the source is an input that fluid enters the channel, and the drain is an output for the fluid in the channel; and

a wedge that controls a rate of fluid flow between the source and the drain in accordance with the fluid pressure within the gate, the wedge configured to induce a first flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the low pressure state of the gate and a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high pressure state of the gate, the second flow rate greater than the first flow rate, wherein the gate comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber located on a first lateral side of the wedge and the second chamber located on a second lateral side of the wedge opposite the first lateral side of the wedge.

6. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, further comprising a pre-loaded gate, wherein the wedge is located between the channel and the pre-loaded gate.

7. The fluidic device ofclaim 6, wherein the pre-loaded gate valve is fixed in place.

8. The fluidic device ofclaim 6, wherein the pre-loaded gate valve comprises a rigid material.

9. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the wedge comprises a first end and a second end, the first end located adjacent to the channel, a width of the wedge tapered such that a width of the first end is less than a width of the second end.

10. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the wedge is configured to control a rate of fluid flow in the channel based on a distance that the wedge protrudes into the channel.

11. The fluidic device ofclaim 10, wherein the wedge induces the first rate of fluid flow in the channel at a first distance of protrusion into the channel and the second rate of flow in the channel at a second distance of protrusion into the channel, the first distance of protrusion greater than the second distance of protrusion.

12. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the wedge is configured to move in a direction towards the channel in accordance with the low pressure state of the gate, thereby inducing the first flow rate of fluid in the channel.

13. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the wedge is configured to move in a direction away from the channel in accordance with the high pressure state of the gate, thereby inducing the second flow rate of the fluid in the channel.

14. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the fluidic device functionally is an inverter.

15. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the fluidic device functionally is a NOR gate.

16. The fluidic device ofclaim 5, wherein the fluidic device functionally is a NAND gate.

Images